Coach Ray Woodard responds to a question from the media Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference held their annual football media day at the L'Auberge Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Lamar University was represented by Coach Ray Woodard, wide receiver Reggie Begelton, and defensive back Xavier Bethany.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/29/15
Jake Daniels/The Enterprise
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Coach Ray Woodard responds to a question from the media Wednesday afternoon. The Southland Conference held their annual football media day at the L'Auberge Resort in Lake Charles on Wednesday. Lamar University ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Freshmen playing their way onto depth chart

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Lamar coach Ray Woodard doesn't want it to be called a 'youth movement', but his young players have been pushing the conversation.

Woodard and the Cardinals released their depth chart for Saturday's season opener against Bacone College Monday at Woodard's weekly press conference with the media and it was littered with freshmen.

"I wasn't expecting this many freshmen to play," Woodard said. "I touted them as a quality class, but I did not think that when we put this up, there'd be this many guys in the two-deep depth chart."

Ten freshmen, including six on offense, made it onto the depth chart even though the Cardinals return 13 starters from last season's eight-win team.

No freshman is listed as a starter, but Woodard said the freshmen listed on the depth chart will receive playing time.

"If we're not going to redshirt them, they're going to play," Woodard said. "So you'll see these guys out there a lot."

According to Woodard, the plan was to redshirt more freshmen but because they've been outplaying the returners he and his staff have no choice but to play them.

"I'm very happy with our older guys," Woodard said. "I'm not down on our older classes at all, but I just think these guys have come out and made cases individually to get on the field."

"It's going to bother them (not knowing who will start)," Woodard said. "I'm not going to sugarcoat that. They're like every other position. They want to know something definite."

Regardless of who starts both Minden and Earp will see the field as well as walk-on junior Blake McKenzie Saturday.

"We just haven't seen these guys play in a game, so we need to see that," Woodard said. "Nobody has taken (the position) over still or else I would have named a starter."

DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH

Although late roster additions Manasseh Miles and Larry Carroll are listed as the starting defensive ends for the Cardinals, fans shouldn't read too much into that as Woodard expects to rotate a number of guys along the defensive front.

"We have about eight guys (up front) who can start," Woodard said. "There will be lots of turnover (at defensive end) in game, but Miles and Carroll have come in and have had good camps."

Junior Koby Couron and sophomore Corbin Carr, who both received the majority of first team snaps during fall camp, will see the field against Bacone. "This is the deepest and most talented (defensive line) we've had since we've been here," Woodard said. "That's all we can really ask for."